Sun Belt Contest/ NZ Piobaireachd Composing Contest/ Piping Times Back Issues

The Sun Belt Invitational Piping Championship returns to Orlando, Florida, on November 11th, 2023, writes Eric Stein. The current list of invitees include: Callum Beaumont (2022 Champion pictured above), Glenn Brown, Bruce Gandy, Nick Hudson, Stuart Liddell, William McCallum, Donald MacPhee, Angus MacColl, Ian K. MacDonald, Alen Tully and Connor Sinclair There are two remaining qualifiers, the overall winners at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and the Masters Invitational at the…

History: The McAllister Reed Goes to Canada

The McAllister reed shot to fame with the success of the Shotts band in the 1970s. It consolidated its position in the era of Strathclyde Police’s run of World Championship wins. With stability, volume, projection, it was the reed of choice for many discerning pipe majors. Twenty five year ago a Canadian family swooped to buy the brand. The Troy family have never looked back. Pictured above are the McAllister…

Editor’s Notebook: Bob Nicol Tunes/ Jimmy Scholarship/ Craig’s Title/ Watson’s Piob Contest/ Eagles Results

As promised, here are another couple of recordings of Bob Nicol’s light music courtesy Breton piper Patrick Molard. These add to the tunes we had earlier this week. Firstly Delvinside and Lochiel’s Awa’ Tae France: And now Arniston Castle and Charlie’s Welcome: I think we should be concerned that all these old settings of tunes could be lost. Wouldn’t it be a good project for students on the piping courses…

Editor’s Notebook: Practice Time/ Low G Taorluath/ Sgian Dubh/ Internship/ Coronation Tune/ Results 1996

How many of you come close to following the guidance in this practice table? I suspect not many will manage the five hours a day. The maximum I could ever do, in say the run up to to Oban and Inverness, would have been two hours. For my pupils I recommend a minimum of an hour a day. This can be split into three sections: 20 minutes on the practice…

RSPBA Regradings and Gradings for New Bands

Paul McAndrew, RSPBA Director to the Music Board, has announced that the Board’s Standards and Gradings Group have approved and notified band secretaries of the grading changes detailed below: By request:Novice Juvenile A to Novice Juvenile B – Erskine Stewart’s Melville 4A to 4B – Irvine & District  4A to 4B – Carrigaline – Irish Pipe Band Association recommendation, ratified by RSPBA 4A to 4B – St Lawrence Howth – IPBA recommendation,…